RFID Asset Tracking

Active RFID asset tracking is much more expensive than passive RFID asset tacking because the tag has to hold a battery and a transmitter. Active RFID asset tracking is used to track more expensive items such as military hardware, airplanes, vehicles and some endangered wildlife species. Both active and passive RFID asset tracking have been around for a lot longer than the majority of people would imagine

RFID Asset Tracking

RFID asset tracking is a method of keeping track of a company's or a household's possessions. RFID asset tracking is a common way of tracking goods passing around a factory warehouse, a retail chain's warehouse or even the assets in military units such as the United States Army.

In fact the United States Department of Defence is the biggest user of RFID asset tracking in the world and has been for a long time. A very long time, because RFID asset tracking has been around for far longer than you will guess.

In fact it started in the Second World War, when Germany and Great Britain were using RADAR guided anti-aircraft guns for defence, so they put transponders in their planes to say: "I am on your side! Don't open fire!".

A similar system is still being used by all airline companies in the world today.

The big difference is that in those days it was economically viable only to place the transponders in very expensive. large items, but nowadays an RFID tag costs only cents and they are small enough to put in a cow's ear.

There are basically two types of RFID tag which can be used in RFID asset tracking, the cheapest one is a passive tag, which only gives out its information if it is asked to reveal it by a 'reader' and an active tag, which is continuously broadcasting its information. (There is also a hybrid tag that will only broadcast only when it has been activated by a reader).

The active broadcasting RFID tags need batteries to keep them active, so they are a lot more expensive than passive tags, which is why they are normally used to protect valuable assets.

RFID asset tracking is the next stage after bar codes and is consequently very big business. Think about it. Bar codes used to be used in supermarkets and big shops like that fifteen years ago, now they are everywhere. Bar codes are even being read in tiny street corner sweet shops.

Bar codes are on their way out, there is no question about that, but it is not due to happen any time soon. They are too widely entrenched. Instead, it will by accomplished stealth.

You can buy an RFID printer that will print what you want in 'three languages' - that is radio frequency code, bar code and human language. That way everybody and everything knows what is in the box.

One day next year or the year after, your insurance company will insist on you RFID tagging all your assets. Your car, your dog and all your other valuable

RFID asset tracking is coming your way soon and a lot sooner than you think.